Interpretive Summary: The National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) has been very important to the beef industry since its inception in 1991. This audit measures and reports producer–related cattle and carcass traits in the beef industry. These findings are then used as teaching tools for producer related programs, as new benchmarks for research programs, and as an assessment of the problems and opportunities that the beef industry is currently facing. There have been four previous audits conducted in the US in 1991, 1995, 2000, and 2005. These studies have shown that genetics and management of cattle have improved and where improvements could still be made. Some of the trends observed in the NBQA-2011 included an increase in USDA Prime and Choice carcasses, increased HCW, increased LM area, and more dairy-type carcasses compared with previous audits. Information from this audit adds to the existing knowledge base of the beef industry regarding quality related attributes. Findings will be used to mark the progress that has been made in the industry and pinpoint the areas of improvement for the future.